THEOCRACY ON SCREEN: Ken Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth"

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THEOCRACY ON SCREEN: Ken Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth"
by Darius Kadivar
07-Dec-2010
 

The Pillars of the Earth is an eight part 2010 TV miniseries, adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name. Like the novel on which it is based, the miniseries centers on the construction of a cathedral in the fictitious town of Kingsbridge during a tumultuous period of English history known as "The Anarchy" in the 12th century. This epic tale of passion and greed begins when a mysterious secret disrupts the succession to the English crown and an unlikely member of King Henry's family takes the throne. 

 

The Pillars of the Earth Directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan and starring Rufus Sewell, Donald Sutherland, Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen and Eddie Redmayne 


Trailer:

 

Preview:

 

Behind the Scenes:

Donald Sutherland joins writer Ken Follett and Executive Producer Ridley Scott to talk about transforming best-selling book, 'The Pillars Of The Earth,' into a mini-series.

 

Plot:

 

The Pillars of the Earth is set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart. In that time, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against the backdrop, love-stories entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, the sadistic Lord William, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone work and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. Follett masterfully weaves these stories through political turmoil of 12th century England, creating a relevant and viable world for today's audience and for generations to come.

 

Official Website of the Series:

The Pillars of the Earth Television Event Series 

 

Related Blogs:

 
THEOCRACY VS ROYALTY ON SCREEN: Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole in "Becket" (1964)      

 

THEOCRACY ON SCREEN: Rex Harrison as the Warrior Pope in "The Agonyand The Ecstasy" (1965)

THEOCRACY ON SCREEN: Anthony Quinn is Pope in "TheShoes of the Fisherman" (1968) 

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Darius Kadivar

Thank You COP for your feedbacks

by Darius Kadivar on

I have yet to see the series which are currently airing on French Cable TV Canal Plus.

I agree that often the books are better than the screen adaptations. But sometimes they do work like in the case of Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose which was brought to screen by French director Jean Jacques Annaud with Sean Connery in the title role.

Come to think of it I will blog on this one too ;0)  

Look forward to seeing these series nevertheless. I have not read the book but heard a great deal of good about it. 

On the sidelines Ken Follett also wrote a book called "On Eagles Wings" about the Rescue attempt by Ross Perot of Canadian and American diplomats in Tehran during the Hostage crisis which was also a TV film with Burt Lancaster and Richard Crenna. I never got my hands on the DVD of that film either. Hope I can find it at some point on ebay maybe. 


Cost-of-Progress

DK, I Recommend the Book First

by Cost-of-Progress on

Read the book about 2-3 years ago and caught all the 8 episodes that aired on the American cable channel, Starz a few months ago. Both were great! HOWEVER, the book is better (as is with any book that is tuned into a movie. Although fiction, it does make you appreciate the power that religion wields on the masses....of course, this is 12th century....not 21st freaking century, but who's counting?

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IRAN FIRST

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